Gollum Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Ok, I searched to no avail. I guess we need more ZX guys. Anyone know of any ZG type flares for the ZX cars? I've decided I need more tire. I've got new tires (less than 5k miles, no burn outs... as if my car could ) and I got into a hairy situation the other day in the rain. Traffic was heavy and traffic stopped suddenly, my tires started to slide and I was only going 45 MPH and I barely pressed on the brakes. Luckly nobody was hit/hurt/injured, but I recieved my fair share of middle fingers from everyone... I wasn't even tail gating was the sad part, but it was just about a 10% grade and my car would stop sliding... bogous. So I want more tire next winter. So I figured why do this whole thing twice? I figured I'll just buy some flares and rims at the same time. I like the size of the ZG flares and I like how easy it would be to drill & rivel them on. But I don't like the old school look, so I'd probly fiberglass the seam so it looked smooth. So I need to figure out where I'm gonna get my flares, and what rims I'm gonna buy. I think the rims will be a harder choice, since I have no idea what's on the market. You can basically call me clueless on rims, other than I know what I think looks good. Any help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 I wouldn't see why ZG flares won't fit a zx. Supra510 has them on his 510 and they look like they fit pretty well. The flares have suppose to flex a little so it will give you a little play to get them to fit. I know "Blackdragon" (aka Victoria British) has steel flares for zx but they aren't ZG flares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Wide tires hydroplane and slip in the snow/ice more easily than skinny ones. You're going the wrong direction. You want some 155's for the wintertime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannji Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Ya, I hear ya with the tires, but it has been my experience that a quality narrow "wet" tire will beat anything else on a Z. I fought my Z's on Long Island until I figured that out, and Bridgestones or Pirellis made a huge difference. Dont know that I would buy the same tires now, but back then, on my budget, that was the way to go, and as a bonus, they looked very nice on my stock steel rims. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted March 27, 2006 Share Posted March 27, 2006 Oh I only read the first 2 parts. Wide Tires, wet = hydroplaining studded tires are what you want for winter if you want to go wider for snow. A wider track helps the cars handling. But seeing taht you are front SF, I would suggest at least a good tread deign with what ever you go with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 Ok, I see what you guys are saying. But I've already got 195s. Is the problem the tread design? What I guess I might end up doing is evetually upgrading to a wide body and such for a motor swap and then using the stock rims with some expensive winter tires. Does anyone think it could be my brake system? Any other ideas of what it could be? Anyone else had these problems in the rain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 check your brake porportions. Did you spin out? if so then you r rear has to much brakeing force. If you just slid forward then it could be a little to much to the front. Since these cars don't have ABS, when you start to slide when braking , DON"T slam on the brake like most peoples' natural reaction. start tapping the brake, this is what I have to do sometimes in the winter time with my jeep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 The one major slid that I'm talking about just the front slid. And it wasn't a slam. I'd started braking lightly due to brake lights then I noticed they were stoped so I kinda pushed hard and then a little harder, then it slid. I let off then it was fine but I didn't have much time to stop and I'd just slid so I merged into the carpool lane as some guy in a brand new sti going 80mph had to slow down to 30 or so while I accellerated to get out of his way (oh no, I took 30 seconds out of his day). He was the one that I really ticked off but I thought it was my best option at the time, and probly was. I made him mad instead of possible hitting the person in front of me. Ok, now you have the drawn out explaination to what happened. My brother was just mentioning that he never had problems in his cars without ABS and that maybe my brakes are "old and suck". I'm leanding towards maybe I just gotta get used to a lower threshhold in the rain. But now that you mention it my rears have never locked. Only my fronts have ever slid on me. So maybe my proportions are off. But my car is 100% stock. Maybe I should try flushing the entire system before buying a proportioning valve. I should also invest in SS braided lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 Sounds like you need some better rain tires and to practice braking in the rain. I know it's damn near impossible to leave more room between you and the car in front anywhere in CA, but you should try to do that as well when its raining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 Well... I had room, wich is the only reason I had time to think about changing lanes 'after' already sliding and letting off. I probly had at least 10-15 lenths before I started braking. I try to never tail gate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 That's good. But it would be better if you could have avoided locking up the tires, or when you did if you instantly let off and reapplied the brakes. Knowing the limits and having the muscle memory to deal with the situation comes from practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-Z Posted March 28, 2006 Share Posted March 28, 2006 The one major slid that I'm talking about just the front slid. And it wasn't a slam. I'd started braking lightly due to brake lights then I noticed they were stoped so I kinda pushed hard and then a little harder' date=' then it slid. I let off then it was fine but I didn't have much time to stop and I'd just slid so I merged into the carpool lane as some guy in a brand new sti going 80mph had to slow down to 30 or so while I accellerated to get out of his way (oh no, I took 30 seconds out of his day). He was the one that I really ticked off but I thought it was my best option at the time, and probly was. I made him mad instead of possible hitting the person in front of me. Ok, now you have the drawn out explaination to what happened. My brother was just mentioning that he never had problems in his cars without ABS and that maybe my brakes are "old and suck". I'm leanding towards maybe I just gotta get used to a lower threshhold in the rain. But now that you mention it my rears have never locked. Only my fronts have ever slid on me. So maybe my proportions are off. But my car is 100% stock. Maybe I should try flushing the entire system before buying a proportioning valve. I should also invest in SS braided lines.[/quote'] BTW the rear is suppose to have less braking force but not too less. It also could be that you skidded because of having a bigger tire radius (bump steer). You probably know all about that. It could be when braking the front compresses thus changing your camber in the front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 mmm, good freakin' point. My suspension is still all origonal and squats and pitched BAD. I totally understand your point jon. I admit I need alot more practice testing my limits in the rain. I know my turning abilitys very well, but don't practice braking much because there isn't too many safe places to build speed and stop near my house, while there's plenty of big and open turns . Maybe I just don't look for the things I don't care about. But now I really want to practice after that experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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